Cullinan Diamond

Open FREE Unlimited Store                   Join Our Newsletter

Origin of name

The Cullinan diamond discovered accidentally in the Premier diamond mines of Transvaal, South Africa, on January 26th, 1905, had an enormous weight of 3,106 carats, making it the largest ever gem-quality rough diamond to be discovered in the world. The diamond was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the discoverer and owner of the Premier diamond mines, where mining activity began just three years before the record-breaking discovery.

3,106-carat Cullinan Rough Diamond

Characteristics of the diamond

The cutters of the Cullinan diamond, I. J. Asscher & Co. of Amsterdam, cleaved the enormous rough diamond into 9 large pieces and around 100 other smaller pieces, all of which were eventually cut and polished into different shapes and sizes of diamonds. The Characteristics of the 9 large diamonds are summarized in the table below.

History

Accidental discovery of the Cullinan rough diamond by Frederick Wells in 1905

The Cullinan diamond was discovered accidentally on January 26th, 1905, by the surface manager of the Premier diamond mines in Transvaal, South Africa, Mr. Frederick Wells, when he was on a routine inspection of the mine, late afternoon, on that particular day. Mr. Wells was about 18ft below the surface of the earth, when his attention was drawn by a shining object reflecting the last inclined rays of the setting sun, on the steep wall of the mine, a few feet above his head. Mr. Wells lost no time in scaling the wall and retrieving the shining object, which at first glance appeared to be a large diamond crystal.

The 3,106-carat Cullinan rough diamond turns out to be undisputed king of all rough diamonds in the history of mankind

The object was immediately taken for testing, and eventually turned out to be the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered, weighing 3,106 carats. This unique distinction was previously held by the 995-carat Excelsior diamond for a period of 12 years, from 1893 to 1905. The rough diamond was named the "Cullinan diamond" in honor of the chairman of the company, Sir Thomas Major Cullinan.The 3,106-carat Cullinan rough diamond turned out to be the undisputed king of all rough diamonds in the history of mankind, and had been holding this position for the last 102 years. It is highly unlikely that any rival could appear, that could challenge the exalted position held by the Cullinan, in the future, unless new deposits of diamond are discovered in the world. See table below.

The Premier diamond mine was discovered in the year 1898, by Sir Thomas Major Cullinan. After acquiring the Prinsloo family farm in which the kimberlite pipe was situated, in 1902, Sir Thomas Cullinan founded the Premier Diamond Mining Company Ltd. on December 1, 1902, and soon afterwards began exploratory mining activities, that revealed the existence of a huge funnel-shaped volcanic chimney, which outcropped on the surface, over a roughly pear-shaped area, about 80 acres in extent. Actual production at the Premier mine, by open-pit mining, began on April 24, 1903, and during the first two years of its operation, four large rough diamonds over 300 carats each, two rough diamonds between 200-300 carats each and sixteen rough diamonds between 100-200 carats each, were discovered. The massive Cullinan diamond was discovered two years after the mine began operations.This accidental and record-breaking discovery attracted international attention to the mines, providing a much-needed boost for further mining activity. In fact many diamond experts believed that the Cullinan was only a fragment of perhaps a larger diamond, and the remaining larger piece still awaited discovery. The prospect of finding the larger portion of the Cullinan stimulated the activities of miners and prospectors.

Above photograph - Circa 1918

---

King Edward VII - King of the United Kingdom and the Emperor of India from 1901 to 1910

King Edward VII commissions I.J. Asscher & Co. of Amsterdam to undertake the cutting of the Cullinan rough diamond

King Edward commissioned the renowned diamond cutters of Amsterdam I. J. Asscher & Co. - who introduced a new diamond cut in 1902 called the Asscher-cut, also known as the square emerald-cut - to undertake the difficult task of cutting the Cullinan. The company had achieved credibility by cutting the Excelsior diamond in 1904, the world's largest rough diamond, before the discovery of the Cullinan diamond in 1905.

The stone was subjected to careful examination before the actual cutting. One of those who examined the Cullinan was Sir. William Crookes, who was astounded by it's remarkable clarity, but at the same time reported of a black spot in the midddle, around which the colors were very vivid, and changed as the analyzer was turned. This phenomenon according to Sir Williams was caused by severe internal strain, which is not uncommon for diamonds. Instances have been reported when diamonds have exploded when reaching the surface or sometimes in the pockets of miners due to body warmth, all attributed to internal strain.

The Cullinan rough diamond was cleaved into nine larger pieces and around 100 smaller pieces, all of which were cut and polished into finished diamonds of different shapes and sizes

The cutting of the Cullinan began on February 10th, 1908. The diamond was first cleaved along a pre-planned axis, by Mr. Asscher himself, who initially made an incision about half an inch deep. to accommodate the blade of a specially designed knife, which was followed by a heavy blow on the knife. The diamond split into two sections as expected. this was followed by a second cleavage in the same direction, producing three principal sections. Each of the sections were subjected to further cleavage, producing altogether nine large pieces. Around a 100 other smaller pieces were also produced. Faceting and polishing of the pieces then began, the shape of the cut being decided according to the dimensions of each piece. When the whole process was finally completed, there were nine major gems, and 96 smaller brilliants.

Joseph Asscher dealing the first blow that split the Cullinan rough diamond into two

---

Cullinan I - The Greater Star of Africa

The Cullinan I, aka the Greater Star of Africa , is the largest of the Cullinan diamonds, with a pear-shaped cut and weighing 530.20 carats. This was the largest faceted diamond in the world, until the discovery of the Golden Jubilee diamond, also from the premier mine in 1985. However, it still remains the largest, D-color, faceted diamond in the world. The dimensions of the diamond are 58.9 x 45.4 x 27.7 mm. The stone has a total of 76 facets.

Presently, the Cullinan I diamond is the second largest faceted diamond in the world; The largest faceted, D-color diamond in the world; The largest pear-cut/pear-shaped diamond in the world; and the largest D-color, pear-shaped diamond in the world.  See table below :-

List of Famous Diamonds Greater than 100 carats in weight arranged in descending order of weights

©internetstones.com

Cullinan II - The Lesser Star of Africa

The Cullinan II, aka the lesser Star of Africa is the second largest Cullinan diamond, with a cushion shape, weighing 317.4 carats. It is the fifth largest faceted diamond in the world;  the second largest, D-color, faceted diamond in the world; the second largest cushion-cut diamond in the world; and the largest cushion-cut, D-color diamond in the world.

Cullinan III

The Cullinan III weighing 94.40 carats has a pear-shaped cut and is mounted in the finial of Queen Mary's (Queen consort of King George V) Crown, but when required Cullinan III could be combined with Cullinan IV to form a pendant-brooch, and most of Queen Mary's portraits show her wearing this combination. Queen Elizabeth II, the present British Monarch, also uses the two diamonds in the same way.

Queen Mary's 1911 Coronation Crown with its finial mounted with a replica of the pear-shaped Cullinan III and the band mounted in front with a replica of the cushion-shaped Cullinan IV diamonds

Queen Mary's Crown was commissioned by Queen Mary, consort of King George V, from the Crown Jewellers, Garrard & Co, for her coronation that was held on June 22, 1911. Apart from the Cullinan III and IV that was mounted on the finial and band of the crown respectively, another famous diamond the Koh-i-Noor was also incorporated in the crown as the centerpiece of  the front cross-patee. After the coronation, the  three large diamonds, the Koh-i-Noor, the Cullinan III and Cullinan IV were replaced with quartz crystal replicas, and the jewels used in alternative settings. Cullinan III & IV were combined together to form a pendan- brooch, that became a favorable piece of jewelry of the of Queen Mary, who became famous  for superbly bejeweling herself for formal events. 

Cullinan III & IV combined together as a pendant-brooch

---

---

Another occasion Her Majesty the Queen was seen wearing "Granny's Chips"

Cullinan IV

The Cullinan IV, with a cushion-cut weighs 63.60 carats, and like the Cullinan III was originally mounted on Queen Mary's Crown, but as stated above, subsequently dismantled and combined with Cullinan III to form a pendant brooch.

Cullinan V

The Cullinan V, with a triangular pear-cut or heart-shaped cut, weighs 18.80 carats, and also had a dual use, one as a piece of jewelry, mounted in a brooch or as the detachable center of the emerald and diamond stomacher of the Delhi Durbar Parure designed in 1911 for Queen Mary  and the other to be worn in the circlet of her crown, as a replacement for the Koh-i-Noor.

This was after the Koh-i-Noor was removed to be mounted on a new crown for Elizabeth (Queen Mother), the Duchess of York after her husband George VI's accession to the throne, upon the abdication of Edward VIII, on December 11, 1936.

Cullinan V brooch

In the Cullinan V brooch, the heart-shaped, 18.80-carat Cullinan V diamond is mounted on a fine radiating platinum web, with a scrolling millegrain and pave-set border of brilliant diamonds.

Queen Mary wearing the Delhi Durbar Parure stomacher incorporating Cullinan V as the centerpiece

Delhi Durbar Parure Stomacher incorporating Cullinan V brooch as centerpiece

Queen Elizabeth wearing the Cullinan V brooch during a visit to Tuvalu (Ellice Islands) in Polynesia

Cullinan VI

The Cullinan VI is a marquise-cut stone, with a weight of 11.50 carats. King Edward VII purchased the diamond from Asschers and presented it to his Queen consort, Queen Alexandra, as a personal gift. Queen Alexandra got the Cullinan VI mounted in the front cross patee of her regal circlet. 

Cullinan VI was inherited by Queen Mary after Queen Alexandra's death in 1925.The fashion-conscious Queen Mary decided that the ideal setting for the marquise-cut Cullinan VI diamond was as a pendant to the radiating platinum mount incorporating the 6.8-carat, emerald-cut Cullinan VIII diamond as its centerpiece, designed by the Crown Jewelers Garrards in 1911. The combination came to be christened as the Cullinan VI & VIII Brooch.

Cullinan VI & VIII Brooch

However, the mounting of Cullinan VIII, like the Cullinan V was adaptable, and could be worn as part of the Delhi Durbar stomacher or linked to the Cullinan V brooch. Cullinan VI & VIII were inherited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, after the death of Queen Mary.

Queen Mary wearing the Delhi Durbar stomacher incorporating the Cullinan V & VIII

Cullinan VII

The Cullinan VII is also a marquise-cut stone, weighing 8.80 carats. The permanent setting of the Cullinan VII is as an asymmetrical pendant to the Delhi Durbar Necklace, a negligee pendant necklace, in which the longer pendant terminates in a pear-shaped emerald, larger in size than the marquise-cut Cullinan VII. The Delhi Durbar Necklace is one of the six components of the Cambridge and Delhi Durbar Parure, designed and crafted by the crown jewelers Garrard's in anticipation of the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary on June 22, 1911, and their subsequent proclamation as the Emperor and Empress of India, at a special Durbar organized for this purpose in Delhi, on December 12, 1911.

Delhi Durbar Necklace incorporating Cullinan VII and a pear-shaped emerald as negligee pendants

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara and the Delhi Durbar Necklace

---

Another occasion Queen Elizabeth II was seen wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara and the Delhi Durbar Necklace

---

More recent occasion when Queen Elizabeth was seen wearing the Vladimir Tiara and Delhi Durbar Necklace combination

Cullinan VIII

Cullinan VIII is an emerald-cut diamond weighing 6.8 carats. In 1911, Garrards set the Cullinan VIII on a radiating platinum mount, similar in style to the Cullinan V brooch. Subsequently in 1925, the marquise-cut, 11.50-carat Cullinan VI was added as a pendant to the brooch, and the combination came to be known as the Cullinan VI and VIII brooch. However, Cullinan VIII could also be dismounted from its brooch and mounted as part of the Delhi Durbar Stomacher or linked to the Cullinan V brooch.

Cullinan VIII brooch designed by Garrard in 1911

Queen Mary wearing Cullinan VI and VIII brooch linked to Cullinan V brooch

---

Cullinan VI and VIII brooch linked to Cullinan V brooch

---

Cullinan IX

Out of the nine numbered Cullinan diamonds the smallest is the Cullinan IX, with a pear-shape and weighing 4.4 carats. The cut employed on the diamond is a pear-shaped modification of the round brilliant-cut known as the pendeloque.The Cullinan IX was set in a platinum ring for Queen Mary by Garrards in 1911

Cullinan IX diamond set in a diamond ring

Like the Cullinan VII set in the Delhi Durbar Necklace, the Cullinan IX had also remained permanently in its original setting in the platinum ring. However, the Cullinan IX platinum ring appears to be the least used of the Cullinan diamonds, and in fact both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth had worn the ring only on a few occasions. Queen Elizabeth inherited the ring from Queen Mary in 1953. 

Two of the larger Cullinan diamonds - Cullinan I & II - are an important component of the British Crown Jewels, mounted respectively on the Royal Scepter and the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain and are on display at the Tower of London, with the other Crown Jewels. The remaining Cullinan diamonds are the personal property of Queen Elizabeth II and were inherited from Queen Mary, her grandmother and the Queen consort of King George V.

Related :-

1) Excelsior Diamond

2) Blue Empress Diamond

3) Cambridge and Delhi Dunbar Parure

External Links :-

https://artemisiasroyaljewels.blogspot.com/p/british-jewels.html

References :-

1) The Queen's Diamonds - by Hugh Roberts

2) The Queen's Jewels. The Personal Collection of Elizabeth II - by Leslie Field

3) The Blue Empress Diamond - www.internetstones.com